Elderberry: Protector and Fire Starter
Meet the Elder Mother who cures blindness and guards the thresholds
Back in April, Lindsay Sudeikis, led a beautiful group about connecting to our plant kin. In it, three plants came forward to me. Elderberry as the plant that can heal me, Hawthorne as the plant that can beautify me, and Echinacea as the plant that can connect me to God. A week or two later, I buried my feet in the soil near my biggest, strongest elder tree and gave myself a graduation speech, to commemorate my leave of absence and my healing. Elder is full of story and history. She is a powerful healer in the physical, emotional and magical realms. She is also well familiar with the idea that the difference between poison and cure is the dose. Elder is a plant that gives me some Baba Yaga vibes. She is here with powerful help for those who are pursuing right action, but also bids that those who are not, “f*** around and find out”.
Identification
In North America, there are three native species of elderberry: Sambucus canadensis, Sambucus cerulea, and Sambucus racemosa. Some believe that S. canadensis and S. cerulea are subspecies of the European elder, Sambucus nigra. In this article, I will focus on S. canadensis since that’s what lives near me and S. nigra since that is what the majority of European uses and tales involve. That said, S. racemosa also lives near me and is probably the main plant you would confuse with S. canadensis. I have read in a few sources that S. racemosa was used for food and medicine by indigenous North Americans, but I have also read in several sources that the berries are toxic because of their cyanide levels. Many parts of S. canadensis are toxic as well. The flowers are safe, the cooked or dried fruits are safe. I’ve read of people trying small amounts of the raw fruits without issue. I’ve had 5 or so raw berries at a time myself. However, the stems, bark, leaves, and roots are poisonous. This is because they contain chemicals that can convert to cyanide. The stems, bark, leaves, and roots are also used in medicine in some traditions, but I don’t know enough about safe dosing to recommend that. Regardless, it is important to be able to tell between the two types of elderberry. When they are fruiting that’s easy, otherwise, it gets a little trickier.
Sambucus canadensis
Description from Minnesota Wildflowers
Flowers: Flat to dome-shaped clusters 3 to 10 inches in diameter at the tips of branches. Flowers are about ¼ inch across, white with 5 rounded petals and 5 creamy white-tipped stamens.
Leaves: Leaves are opposite, compound in groups of 5 to 11, usually 7. Leaflets are generally lance-elliptic, 2 to 5 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide, with a long taper to a pointed tip, finely serrated edges, and a short stalk.
Fruit: Fruit is a purplish-black berry less than ¼ inch diameter, containing 3 to 5 stone-like seeds. Flower stalks turn purplish as fruit develops, the clusters eventually drooping from the weight.
Sambucus racemosa
Description from Minnesota Wildflowers
Flowers: The cluster of flowers is a pyramid or vase shape, as opposed to a flat disc for S. canadensis. Flowers are about ¼ inch across, white to creamy colored, with 5 petals that are widely spreading to tightly bent back (recurved). 5 creamy-tipped stamens.
Leaves: Leaves are opposite, compound in groups of 5 or 7. Leaflets are generally football-shaped, 2 to 5 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide, tapering to a pointed tip, finely serrated the edges.
Fruit: Fruit is a bright red berry ¼ inch or less diameter, containing 3 to 5 stone-like seeds.
My Favorite Uses
I didn’t include specific harvesting instructions because once you know how to identify the plant correctly, you just pick the flowers or the berries. Don’t harvest too many flowers or you won’t end up with many berries.
I have one thing I do with elderberries. I know there are many more, but I just love this stuff. Thanks to Heather Mashuga for this recipe:
Elderberry Syrup
Ingredients:
1 cup of fresh or frozen elderberries (or ½ cup dried)
3 cups filtered water
2 whole cloves
1-2 cinnamon sticks
1 inch of fresh ginger root (I like to slice it up)
Honey to taste
Optional: sliced orange
Optional: splash of brandy or vodka to extend fridge life
Instructions:
Place elderberries, water, cloves, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and oranges (if using) in a saucepan over medium heat.
Bring to a steam, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 45-60 minutes
Use a potato masher to mash berries and release juice while heating
When done, strain through cheesecloth (after it has cooled enough to comfortably touch), squeeze out the juice, discard the pulp (which you should compost or give back to the earth, this is a standard practice of gratitude when making herbal medicine to not throw it away).
Stir in honey and brandy until thoroughly combined and transfer to a lidded jar (my favorite are glass maple syrup bottles with a pour top). Lasts in the refrigerator for about six months or longer as long as there’s no mold.
Elderflower vinegar
This one’s pretty simple, I think I originally learned it from
. Fill a jar with elderflowers. Then fill the jar with apple cider vinegar. Let sit for at least 3-4 weeks. I mostly use it mixed 1:1 with honey either mixed with sparkling water as a soda or straight up as a cough/sore throat syrup, but there’s way more you can do with it.There’s also elderflower cordial or syrup, and so many other elderberry desserts, but I haven’t made those. If you have something you love, feel free to share it in the comments.
How to Prepare as Medicine
The main medicine I make with elderberries is the syrup above. I also make elderflower tincture. If you want to make your own tincture check out this video.
Medicinal Uses
Unless otherwise noted, my source for these medicinal uses is either my herbalism teacher, Heather Mashuga or Steven Martyn from The Sacred Gardener. Heather and Steven are both herbalists, so rely on information from that tradition rather than the biomedical system. There are not necessarily randomized controlled trials to prove all of these uses.
Legendary herbalist Juliette de Bairacli Levy refers to elderberry as “one of the greatest of all herbs”. She notes that the Gypsies declare, “that a tree which can help all the ailments of mankind and can restore sight to the blind is too precious to burn”. (Baïracli-Levy 58)
General:
Anti-inflammatory
Lowers fever
Nutritional:
Rich in vitamin C
Rich in iron
Infectious Diseases:
In Europe, used for all colds, flus, respiratory illnesses, fever with dry skin and red cheeks, runny noses, tonsillitis, and mouth inflammation
Reduces the duration of influenza symptoms by ⅓
Use elderflowers steeped in water for coughs, colds, and all lung infections (Baïracli-Levy 58)
Eye:
Elderflowers are used for many eye ailments
Elderflowers have restored sight to the blind after shock to the eyes like bomb blasts (I believe she is discussing traumatic optic neuropathy for those who care) (Baïracli-Levy 58)
Elderberries cooked into porridge or strained for juice contain sambucin, which helps the eye adjust to low-light vision (Beresford-Kroeger 258).
Cardiovascular:
When the root of elderberry is washed and soaked, it produces a juice that is useful to decrease edema (fluid build up) (Baïracli-Levy 58)
Lungs:
Breaks up mucous in the chest and brings up phlegm
Helps with asthma
Intestinal:
Laxative
Neurological
The inner bark of old branches of elder is a remedy against epilepsy (Baïracli-Levy 58)
Skin:
A brew of elder leaves applied to the skin is useful for eczema and baby rashes. (Baïracli-Levy 58)
When geranium leaves and garlic are added to the brew, it can also be helpful for itching, ringworm, or a bacterial infection of the lymph nodes. (Baïracli-Levy 58)
Elderflowers heated to body temperature in buttermilk or whey, then steeped for 3 hours, then reheat and add an ounce of honey is helpful for burns and erysipelas. It is purported to cool, soften, and cleanse the skin.
Elderberries can also be applied to burns and prevent skin cancer. (Baïracli-Levy 59)
Medical Literature
General:
Elderberry stimulates the immune system by acting chemicals secreted by immune cells that act on other cells. Elderberry has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.
Surprisingly (at least to me), elderberry has been found to have a higher concentration of polyphenols (antioxidant chemicals) when grown in a well-organized orchard rather than in the wild. The amount of polyphenols and anthocyanins can vary substantially based on the year. Plants grown in the southeastern United States have higher concentrations of polyphenols than in northern states.
Infectious Diseases:
Elderberry contains anthocyanins, which attach to viral glycoproteins (proteins with a carbohydrate attached) and make them ineffective at entering host cells.
Elderberry extracts inhibit influenza A and influenza B viruses.
In the one randomized controlled trial that evaluated prevention of colds, there was not a large enough difference to be able to say that elderberry extract prevented colds. However, in that study, those taking elderberry extract got better on average two days faster than those taking placebo.
Compared to placebo, patients taking Sambucol (a commercial elderberry product), who have influenza, the proportion of patients whose symptoms had resolved was about 2.5 times higher in the Sambucol group after 2 days and 3 days, and 2 times higher at 4 days. Overall, people in the Sambucol group had complete resolution of illness about 3 days faster than in the placebo group. However, the certainty of these estimates of benefit are low because of small sample size and how outcomes were measured.
When comparing EchinaForce (a commercial product using Echinacea and Elderberry) with oseltamivir (Tamiflu), there is weak evidence that more people feel better after 1 day with Tamiflu, but similar numbers of people feel better at 3 and 5 days. However, people receiving EchinaForce had only about ⅓ of the risk of adverse events or side effects compared to Tamiflu (side note: Tamiflu side effects are no joke). This is also low certainty evidence because of small sample sizes and risk of bias.
Antibacterial against Staph, Strep, Salmonella, and Pseudomonas, among others.
Cardiovascular:
An extract of elderberry polyphenols (antioxidant chemicals) reduces the risk of developing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries which increases the risk of heart attacks) significantly.
Metabolic:
In animal studies, elderflower extract improves the body’s ability to utilize sugar without additional insulin. In fact, water-based elderberry extracts have an insulin-like effect on blood sugars.
An extract of elderberry polyphenols (antioxidant chemicals) lowers cholesterol levels. However, a couple other studies showed no effect.
In a study on obese mice, elderberry extract decreased triglycerides, inflammatory markers, insulin resistance, and fat build-up in the liver.
In patients treated with capsules filled with elderberry juice with elderflower extract and another capsule of asparagus powder. Bodyweight decreased by an average of about 7 lb., systolic blood pressure (the top number) decreased by 5 percent. A similar study of elderberry concentrate, elderflower juice, and elderflower extract found an average weight loss of over 5 lbs
Dietary consumption of anthocyanins (another antioxidant chemical) that elderberry is rich in, reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Cancer:
Elderberry, concentrated elderberry, and elderberry extract inhibited the growth of brain cancer cells and the development of blood vessels to supply those cancer cells.
Both European and American elderberries contain chemicals that prevent the development and spread of cancer.
Neurology:
Animal studies suggest that elderberry in the diet of rats with induced Alzheimer’s improves memory, learning and decreases degeneration of some neurons.
Elderberry fruit was given to rats with an induced Huntington’s disease and they were found to have improved motor function and muscle coordination, when compared to rats fed a standard diet.
Anthocyanin-rich elderberry extract prevents mitochondrial dysfunction (mitochondria are the powerhouses of cells). Preventing this dysfunction slows the onset and progression of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Elderberry juice helps spatial thinking and the ability to think about multiple scenarios at the same time in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
Orthopedic:
An extract of elderberry polyphenols (antioxidant chemicals) prevents bone loss in diabetic rats. People with diabetes are at higher risk of osteoporosis than the general public.
Psychiatry:
In a study regarding treatment of depression, elderberry resulted in increased activity and decreased immobility in a mouse study. European elderberry was more effective than dwarf European elderberry for this purpose. Elderberry improved activity levels compared to Imipramine. Imipramine is in the TCA family of antidepressants. I am not sure why it was chosen as the control in 2014 when this study was performed because SSRIs were used much more frequently then and now.
Breastfeeding:
Traditionally, in Turkiye, elderberry has been used to stimulate breast milk production, but no clinical trials support this use
No data exists on what, if any, chemicals from elderberries are excreted in breast milk.
As the months go on, you may be noticing, and I am certainly noticing that there is a lot of overlap in benefits of many of these plants because they act on the immune, inflammation, and antioxidant systems in the body. For those types of issues, I’m starting to wonder if it might not be as important which plant we use, so much as that we are in an ongoing, continuous relationship between our bodies and these plants.
Adverse Effects
Raw, unripe berries, leaves, and stems contain toxic substances that can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Cooking eliminates this toxin. Consuming large amounts of the above parts of elderberry can cause severe illness.
The safety of elderberry and elderflower in pregnancy and breastfeeding have not been established.
Ecosystem Services
I can personally attest that birds love elderberries. We are often in keen competition to see who can get to them first. I usually just grab the ones within arms reach and leave the high ones to them. It provides nesting habitat for several species of songbirds and insects. Several species of moths also use elder for food. These shrubs create a canopy of cooling shade, prevent erosion, and provide food for deer, bear, and elk.
History and Folklore
Elder’s name may have come from Hylde-Moer, the Scandinavian matriarchal tree spirit associated with elder. However, it may also come from the Anglo-Saxon word aeld, which means fire and is related to the pithy core being used for tinder and the outer branches as a tool for fire blowing. In many places, and in Romani culture, there is a taboo against burning elder wood or cutting down an elder tree. Part of this is practical too, as the wood is not a strong fuel and the sap makes it scream and spit while burning. Some believed this was the devil spitting from the fire. Some believed an elder tree would bleed, weep, and speak if you cut it, and that a dryad would haunt the owners of the cut down elder tree.
Wood from elder trees contains a soft pithy core that is easy to remove. Because of this, it is excellent for making whistles, pipes, and fire blow sticks. To treat toothache, one was supposed to hold an elder twig in their mouth and say, “Depart evil spirit”. The smell of elder leaves is thought to repel flies. Washing one’s face in the dew from elderflowers is supposed to help enhance and maintain youthful beauty. Newborns in Iroquois nation were bathed in an elderflower wash. (Beresford-Kroeger 260) In fact, the flowers carry oil, mucilage, and some complex resins that strengthen and protect the fine capillary network under the skin. (Beresford-Kroeger 258) Elder leaves were scattered over a person or object to bless them. Then the leaves were scattered to the north, south, east, and west to banish misfortune. Poultices were made to treat sprains, aches, or gout. Elderberries fried with mutton fat were applied to boils and skin ulcers. Berries make blue and purple dyes, leaves make yellow and green dyes, and bark makes gray and black dyes.
Elderberries were often planted around dairies because it was believed they helped to prevent the milk from turning sour. They were also planted around bakehouses to protect from the devil. Baked goods were left to cool under the elders, but any left overnight were considered gifts for the fairies.
Funeral flints shaped as elder leaves have been found as early as 2000 BC. Elderberry was one of Hippocrates favorite herbs(Baïracli-Levy 58), and Medieval herbalist John Evelyn found elder to be, “a kind of Catholicon against all infirmities whatever” (meaning it works for everything). The tree was sacred across Northern Europe. All parts of the tree were considered a blessing.
Ian Morton wrote in his history of the elder tree:
For the deities and dryads of other trees, the Earth Mother provided a channel to the Earth Goddess herself and, before using elder in any ritual, it was advisable to ask permission by kneeling, bare-headed with arms folded, and reciting: ‘Lady Ellhorn, give me thy wood, and I will give thee some of mine when it grows in the forest.’
The plant’s ability to sprout from damaged boughs and to grow root from cuttings (it was much used in the creation of hedges) symbolised regeneration. In the Celtic tree calendar, the 13th month was the Elder Moon, from November 25 to December 21, signifying both an end and a beginning…
The worship of trees and their deities was banned in the Holy Roman Empire by Charlemagne in the 9th century and again by the Church at the Council of Trier in 1227, however, belief in arboreal powers persisted throughout the centuries and isn’t uncommon even today.
According to druidry.org, “The correct way to approach the tree was to say: ‘Old Woman, give me some of thy wood and I will give thee some of mine when I grow into a tree’.”
However, Christians developed many negative legends around plants that were prominent and important in Pagan traditions (like elder). Elder is reputed to be the tree that Judas Iscariot hung himself from. Elder and Aspen are among those “accused” of supplying the wood for Jesus’ cross. However, elder trees are small and their wood is weak, so both seem highly unlikely.
In the Celtic lunar calendar, the Ogham calendar, a tree and letter are assigned to each month. Elder is the 13th moon. It occurs at the end of the agricultural year (Samhain/Halloween), thus marks the end of the cycle and a new beginning (Given that the Celtic New Year is at Samhain, I think this is more likely when it occurred rather than before the winter solstice, but I have no evidence to back that up). In German and Scandinavian folklore, Hylde-Moer, or Elder Mother, lives in the tree. Her permission must be sought before touching the tree, even more so when cutting the tree. If the appropriate prayers and offerings were not made, the Hylde-Moer would take her revenge.
Some believed witches gathered under elder leaves and could turn themselves into elder trees. In Ireland, witches rode elder sticks, rather than broomsticks.
There’s a wonderful German folktale, Frau Holle, but I can’t do it justice in just a couple paragraphs, so check it out here.
This folk tale is from Somerset, England, as relayed on druidry.org:
It tells of a farmer who discovered his cows were being milked by a witch disguised as an elder-tree. The farmer loaded his gun with a silver bullet to shoot her, but missed, and the witch chased him back to his cottage. He hurtled in through the front door and his wife shot the iron bolt, but the farmer’s coat-tails were caught in the door and he struggled pathetically there while the witch prowled around outside! Luckily, the old granny saves the day. She takes:
a girt shovel of burning coals and she say to the girl, ‘Open the back door wide!’ And she did and ran back to her mother, but the old Cranny she just stood there, and when the elder-tree came straight at her, and a-leaping and a-shrieking, she just up and throw all they red-hot coals at her, and come in and shut the back door. Then they all see blue flames flicker and hear tree crackling into cinders.
After a bit Granny she took the ashen cattle-goad and go out and there was a girt heap of ashes, cold already and they women all made a criss-cross on the ashes with the ashen-goad, and they ran and opened shutters and front door again and farmer were able to free his coat-tails and go out to his cows.
Magical Uses
The best time to encounter fairies under an elder tree is on Midsummer’s Eve (or Samhain in Scotland), when the fairy king and queen would pass by with their train. Elder is known as a protector tree, and people believed that elder keeps evil spirits from entering the home.
If the eyes are washed in the green juice of the wood, you might see fairies or witches. Elder twigs are also used to create amulets of protection, “A 17th century manuscript gives a recipe for a protective amulet made from plucking an elder twig in October, just before the full moon. The wood between the knots must be cut into nine pieces, which are bound in a piece of linen and hung around the neck so that they touch the heart. They hang there until the thread breaks, at which point the amulet has to be buried where it may not be found.”
Tea made from elderberry, with a sachet containing dried elderberry and violet fluorite is said to facilitate out of body experiences or the ability to visit the land of the fairies. Elderberries are also used in rituals to break curses.
Plant Spirit Medicine
Elder trees are trees of transition. They mark thresholds between life and death, sickness, and health, this world and the otherworld. Elder requires caution and wisdom in use. It is a plant that can heal or harm. Her spirit is believed to be that of a protective mother. Elderberry encourages us to take action and make the most of the opportunity in front of us. Elderberry is associated with Libra (total coincidence) and the root and throat chakra.
Flower Essences
Elderflower flower essence helps to align our physical and emotional selves. It is a force for renewal, rejuvenation, and reinvigoration, particularly for those who feel the toll of age on their shoulders. It allows for gentle integration of the shadow side (the parts of ourselves that we don’t like or cast out).
Blessing
Holy Elder, thank you for the powerful medicine you share with us. We show our gratitude for your protection from infection and cancer, your protection of our hearts and minds. We thank you for showing us the way through the thresholds of our lives. Please help us to unite our physical and emotional beings. Please show us the way to renewal and rejuvenation Please help us to kindle the sparks in our lives.
Works Cited
Baïracli-Levy, Juliette de. Common Herbs for Natural Health. Ash Tree Publishing, 1997.
Beresford-Kroeger, Diana. To Speak for the Trees: My Life's Journey from Ancient Celtic Wisdom to a Healing Vision of the Forest. Random House of Canada, 2019.
Author’s note: Reviewing the medical literature for these plants is great fun AND takes quite a bit of time. Because the knowledge I’m sharing here has a bit more practical use and takes more time than me talking about my feelings I have opened The Nettle Witch, MD up for paid subscriptions. I won’t be putting anything behind the paywall because I want all of this information to be available to anyone who will use it, but if you find it valuable and are willing to support my work, I’d be honored. As a thank you, I am recording a plant spirit meditation for paid subscribers starting this month (Paid subscribers, I hope to have this in your inbox by the end of the day or tomorrow morning at the latest). Thank you so much!